Friday, October 7th

In Review: Homme Fall 2016

by Allison Shilinski

Wednesday, September 21 brought Fashion Week MN goers to Modist Brewing for men’s fashion showcase, Homme. As a lens into the lifestyle of the Minnesota man, Homme offered a refreshing take on classic style and shed some light on the local fashion community as a whole.

Chris Hooks in a black leather moto jacket, long grey cardigan, and chopped dress pants at Homme menswear fashion show

Homme’s second event in the Fashion Week MN lineup continued neatly within the trend of minimalist, heritage style that has been popular for the Minnesota man in recent years. Fresh and invigorating, the show’s styling by Connie Mrotek (who co-produced the event with Fashion Week MN co-founder Sarah Edwards) did not disappoint, and it’s no surprise considering the scope of the local stylist’s talents. The fashion at Homme took the best from what we’ve come to appreciate in simple and sophisticated style, and it topped it off with fun and flare. Additionally, quality menswear styles are important, but locally and responsibly made items are even more important. Homme nailed it visually, while promoting local and responsible brands.

A black suit draped with pink faux fur at Homme

Backed by the sounds of DJ Sarah White, the aesthetics of the show were invigorating. If you’re not excited after seeing a princess pink faux pelt draped over the shoulder of a good lookin’ dude in a quality black suit coat coming down a runway, you are either a hardcore vegetarian or no fun. (We won’t blame you for the former, though.) Other highlights of the show included mixed material sweaters, floral and teapot patterns, and quite a few cropped trousers. The most unique pairings had the crowd edging in to get a good look at the wonderfully unpredictable looks. As any effortless style should, Homme embraced a touch of whatever. Playing on this fall’s overarching statements such as athleisure and then adding fresh elements, the show’s styling and the energy of the local-personalities-turned-models set the crowd abuzz as soon as it ended.

However, the excitement was equally matched by confusion. Who made these pieces? Were they from local boutiques? Were they altered and upcycled, or were they designed by the local fashion designers which the Fashion Week MN crowd comes out in force twice a year to support? The show’s closing thank you’s mentioned the sponsors, the producers, and the stylists, but not the origins of the stirring garments involved. A search for a program led to a catalogue by the event’s top sponsor, Lexus, filled with the company’s car models, but there were no designer listings to be found. Although the producers did post designer interviews to social media in the weeks preceding the event, as well as credited Instagram photos after, guests need to know whose work they’re seeing as its coming down the runway.

Despite the jarring crediting mishap, Homme provided a fresh look at some quality men’s style, encouraged creative expression through fashion, and communicated the integrity of the Minnesota fashion community. There will always be guests at these shows who attend in order to see and be seen, but most local fashion fans aren’t just Minnesota Nice about supporting their local designers. They are true-hearted consumers who want to support local artists and businesses. If only they knew where to buy the clothes.